Card and label dispenser

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for dispensing cards and labels is constructed such as to permit only one card or label at a time to be removed from a slot formed in the forward portion of the dispenser by means of downward finger pressure and concurrent forward finger movement. The dispenser is particularly useful for dispensing cards and labels having adhesive backings, by guiding such cards or labels through the slot and then stripping a protective backing from the card or label downwardly, generally perpendicular to the slot, so that the card or label is readily separated from said backing and can then be affixed to an object. There is also provided means for locking the assembled parts of the dispenser in place and, preferably, means for permitting the dispenser to be partially opened without being disassembled so that a supply of cards or labels can be replenished.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Gerald Benson 3,421,658 1/1969 Cooksey 221/307 216-16 85th Ave., Queens Village, N.Y. Primary Examiner uoyd King [21] A l N AssistantExaminer-Thomas C. Culp, Jr.

PP- Attorne -Howard E. Thom son, Jr.

22 Filed Sept. 4, 1969 y p [45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971 1 ABSTRACT: A dispenser for dispensing cards and labels is [54] CARD AND LABEL DISPENSER constructed such as to permit only one card or labelat a time 6 C'aims 5 Drawin t to be removed from a slot formed in the forward portion of the a g g dispenser by means of downward finger pressure and concur- [52] US. Cl 221/307 m f d fi movement The dispenser is particularly f CI 2 59/00 useful for dispensing cards and labels having adhesive backings such cards or labels through the lot and 221/307, 279, 280; 206/39 then stripping a protective backing from the card or label downwardly, generally perpendicular to the slot, so that the [56] References cued card or label is readily separated from said backing and can UNITED STATES PATENTS then be affixed to an object. There is also provided means for 1,451,279 4/1923 Strietelmeier 206/39 locking the assembled parts of the dispenser in place and, 1,909,919 5/1933 Testi 221/279X preferably, means for permitting the dispenser to be partially 2,502,248 3/1950 Colton et al. 133/6 opened without being disassembled so that a supply of cards 2,899,105 8/1959 Testi 221/309 or labels can be replenished.

l- /0 30 T I l, T I /Z l 28 I v- [I A CARD AND LABEL DISPENSER This inventionrelates to a dispenser constructed so that 7 cards or labels can be removed therefrom only one at a time.

It is well known to provide dispensers for removing articles therefrom one at a time. For example, safety razor blade dispensers are constructed with a slot in at least one end thereof so that the razor blades can be urged outwardly through the slot one at a time. In such dispensers, however, the blades are generally spring supported within the casing to prevent unintended movement of the blades. It is also known to provide business card holders having a flap at one end inturned into the body of the holder so that an individual business card can be removed from theholder past the inturned flap. None of these dispensers, however, has the versatility of the novel dispenser of this invention. In addition to providing for controlled removal of one card or label at a time, these cards or labels can be provided with adhesive on their reverse, unprinted sides and mounted on a releasable protective backing. The releaseable protective'backing can be removed from a card or label as it is individually withdrawn from the dispenser so that the card or label can be directly affixed to an object.

The dispenser of this invention can be fabricated in two pieces of lightweight, durable material. Preferably, the dispenser is molded from a strong, lightweight plastic such as polystyrene. The upper portion of the dispenser is provided with an open-ended cutout extending to the front edge of the upper member and having a practical thumb 'unning width; i.e., about "it" to 1.0". The lower member of the dispenser is fabricated to have a beveled frontwall whose upper edge forms a thin lip, which, in assembly, defines a slot at the forward end of the dispenser between the upper and lower members. The spacing of the'defined slot is such that only one card or label can be urged therethrough at a time. Hence, the dispenser can be turned with the slot facing downwardly and even shaken while in this position and none of the cards contained therein will pass through the slot.

The dispenser of the present invention and the manner in which it is constructed will become more apparent by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein there is illustrated one embodiment of the dispenser and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the dispenser of the present invention; g

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, in section, substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing the dispenser as it would be held by an individual during use;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view, in section, substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, taken in the direction of the arrows 44 of FIG. 2 and illustrating one manner in which the upper and lower members of the dispenser can be assembled; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1, part broken away to show the background of the structure, and illustrating the manner in which a protective backing can be removed from a card or' label withdrawn from the dispenser.

Turning now to the drawing, there is shown and illustrated a dispenser of the present invention comprising an upper member and a lower member 11. Upper member 10 is generally rectangular in shape and comprises a top wall 12, a generally rectangular backwall 13 disposed perpendicular to top wall 12 and a pair of parallel sidewalls 14, the forward ends 14' of which are fabricated so that they form an acute angle with respect to the top wall 12 (FIG. 5). In the forward half of the top wall 12, there is an open-ended cutout 15, the inner extremity of which is preferably shaped in the form of a semicircle.

The lower member 11 is also generally rectangular in shape and comprises a bottom wall 16, a generally rectangularly shaped backwall 17 disposed perpendicular to the bottom wall 16 and a pair of parallel sidewalls 18. Lower member 11 is also provided with a front wall 19 which-is fabricated at an obtuse angle with respect to bottom wall 16 to form a beveled end aligning in the assembled device with the forward ends 14 of the upper member 10. The upper edge of the beveled front wall 19 is fabricated in the form of a thin lip 20 substantially parallel to the top wall 12 and providing a sharp leading edge 21.

The lower member 11 fits within the upper member 10 with the backwalls l3 and 17 in abutting relation and the sidewalls 14 and 18 in slidable frictional engagement. Interengagement between the members 10 and 11 is provided by inwardly extending elongated flanges 22 centrally of the edges of the sidewalls l4 and smaller inwardly extending flanges 23 spaced forwardly thereof in upper member 10 which register with elongated grooves 24 at the junctures between sidewalls 18 and bottom walls 16 of the lower member 11 (FIG. 4).

Outwardly extending protrusions 25 at the forward ends of the grooves 24, and outwardly extending protrusions 26 at the rear ends of said grooves in the lower member 11, engage the inner surface of the walls 14 of the upper member 10 and aid in aligning the assembled members. More important, however, the protrusions 25 and 26 act as stop and positioning means in the use of the device. I

As shown in FIG. 4, protrusions 25 are positioned to override and engage the smaller flanges 23 to thereby lock the members 10 and 11 in assembled relatiomThe protrusions 26, when moved to engagement with the rear ends 22 of the flanges 22, provide a temporary or partial'stop, supporting the members 10 and 11 in a partially open position, and permitting cards or labels to be inserted through the forward end of the assemblage. This functioning of the stop and positioning means is possible due to the slight flexibility of the sidewalls l4 permitting the lower edges thereof to spread apart slightly as the protrusions 26 ride over the flanges 22 and 23 and as the protrusions 25 ride over the flanges 23 in the forcible relative movement of the members 10 and 11.

In other words, the engagement of the protrusions 25 and flanges 23 is sufficient to hold the members 10 and 11 locked in assembled relation providing a chamber or storage area 27 for receiving a quantity of cards or labels 28. When the flanges 23 have been forced over the protrusions 25 in an initial opening movement, there is relatively free-sliding movement between the members 10 and 11 until the protrusions 26 engage the flanges ends 22. The members are then supported in a partially open position until a further and deliberate application of force causes the protrusions 26 to flex the walls 14 and ride over the flanges 22 and 23 permitting complete disengagement of the members 10 and 11.

This ability to support the members in a partially open position is of practical advantage to the user as'it greatly facilitates the replacement of cards or labels from time to time without disassembling the dispenser and minimizes the chance of accidental dropping or disarrangement of the cards or labels.

Due to the manner in which upper and lower members 10 and 11 are fabricated and formed, a narrow slot 29 is defined between the thin lip 20 formed at the "top of the beveled front wall 19 of the lower member 11 and the lower edges 30 of the top wall 12 adjacent each side of the open-ended cutout 15 (FIGS. 1 and 5). The space formed by the slot 29 is such that only one card or label 28 can be urged. therethrough at a time. Hence, even if the dispenser were inverted so that slot 29 was at the lower end of the inverted dispenser, the slot 29, acting in conjunction with the beveledv front wall 19, prevents any cards or labels from passing therethrough.

In FIG. 5, there is shown a dispenser of the present invention wherein a plurality of cards or labels 28 each having an adhesive backing 31 and a protective strip 32 are placed in the storage area 27 of the dispenser. When; cards and labels having adhesive backings thereon are employed, it is preferred to manufacture them so that the leading end of each card or label 28 is provided with a grip portion 33 severed from the printed portion of the card or label 28 as indicated by line 34 in FIG. 1. The grip portion 33 and the card or label 28 each have ad- A card or label 28 can be removed from the dispenser by gripping it in one hand as is illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 2. A finger of the gripping hand, preferably the thumb, is inserted into open-ended cutout until it engages the uppermost card or label 28 in the storage area 27. Downward pressure is exerted by the thumb on the uppermost card or label 28 and this card or label is then concurrently urged by the engaging finger toward slot 29 until the leading edge ofthe card or label 28 is forced through slot '29. With the other hand, the leading edge of a card or label 28 can then be removed from the dispenser.

If the cards or labels 28 having adhesive backings 31, are utilized, the same removal procedure would be followed as described aboveI-Iowever, as the leading edge of 115 card or label 28 is urged through slot 29, the grip portion 33 of the card or label 28 (FIG. 5) is grasped with the other hand and pulled perpendicularly downward away from slot 29. Bending of the protective strip 32 over sharp edge 21 coupled with the body or stiffness in the card or label 28, readily facilitates peeling of the protective strip 32 from'the card or label 28. The card or label 28 can then be directly affixed to any object.

Those utilizing the dispenser of the invention can, with practice, become sufficiently adept so that they can feed a card from the device and at least partially remove the protective backing with one hand as, for example, feeding a card from the dispenser with the thumb and grasping and pulling the grip portion 33 with the middle and index fingers, placing the projected portion of the card into contact with a desired support and adhering the card to the support with thumb pressure as the dispenser and backing member are withdrawn. Alternatively, the projecting portion of the card can be grasped with the free hand for placement of the card on any desired support.

The dispenser and adhesive backed cards are extremely useful and versatile in various walks of business and personal life, and are particularly helpful to salesmen and the like. Thus, for example, a salesman, when delivering a catalogue, brochure, or other item to a potential customer for further consideration, can quickly and easily apply his card to such item, thereby assuring that any followup by the potential customer will come to his personal attention. In some instances, it may also be desirable to deliver the card or a second card without removing the protective backing, thus enabling the party receiving the card to later remove the protective backing and adhere the card in an address book or other place of permanent record.

Although the dispenser of the invention has been described herein with particularity and in some detail, it should be understood that changes, modifications and alternations can be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for dispensing cards and labels comprising in combination:

a. an upper member having a top wall, parallelly disposed sidewalls and an end wall, the top wall having an openended cutout formed therein, the'open end of which extends to one edge of said top wall; b. a lower member having a bottom wall, a pair of parallelly 5 disposed sidewalls, an end wall, and a beveled wall opposite the end wall angularly disposed with respect to said bottom wall at a generally obtuse angle, the upper edge of said beveled wall forming a thin lip such that, in assembly with said upper member, thereiis defined a chamber for cards and labels and also defined between the thin lip of said beveled wall and the edge in which said cutout terminates, a slot through which one card or label can be forcibly urged at one time; and c. cooperative means on said upper andlower members for providing slidable interengagement therebetween, securing said up er and lower members to each other, and locking sai upper and lower members in a fixed position when assembled. 2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperative means comprise:

a. inwardly extending elongated flanges centrally positioned at each of the edges of the sidewalls of said upper member; I

b. smaller inwardly extending flanges spaced forward of said elongated flanges;

c. elongated grooves at the junctures between each of the sidewalls and the bottom wall of said lower member; and

d. outwardly extending protrusions at the forward ends of each of said grooves cooperating with said smaller flanges to lock said upper and lower members in an assembled position.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim 2wh'erein the cooperative means includes outwardly extending protrusions at the rear ends of said grooves which protrusions coact with the rear 35 ends of said elongated flanged such that said upper and lower members can be restrained in a partially'disengaged position to facilitate replenishment of said cards and labels in said chamber.

4. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein the chamber 40 contains a plurality of composite cards, each of said cards comprising a facing sheet with adhesive backing mounted on a coextensive releasable protective sheet, said facing sheet being severed to provide a relatively small grip portion and a substantially larger display portion.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim l-wherein the chamber contains a plurality of composite cards, each of said cards comprising a facing sheet with adhesive backing mounted on a coextensive releasable protective sheet, said facing sheet being severed to provide a relatively small grip portion and a substantially larger display portion, and said facing sheet having sufficient body to be disengaged from said protective sheet when said grip portion is pulled downwardly with respect to said slot.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said cutout ex- 5 5 tends to at least one-half the length of said top wall and is of a width sufficient to receive the thumb of a user therein. 

1. A dispenser for dispensing cards and labels comprising in combination: a. an upper member having a top wall, parallelly disposed sidewalls and an end wall, the top wall having an open-ended cutout formed therein, the open end of which extends to one edge of said top wall; b. a lower member having a bottom wall, a pair of parallelly disposed sidewalls, an end wall, and a beveled wall opposite the end wall angularly disposed with respect to said bottom wall at a generally obtuse angle, the upper edge of said beveled wall forming a thin lip such that, in assembly with said upper member, there is defined a chamber for cards and labels and also defined between the thin lip of said beveled wall and the edge in which said cutout terminates, a slot through which one card or label can be forcibly urged at one time; and c. cooperative means on said upper and lower members for providing slidable interengagement therebetween, securing said upper and lower members to each other, and locking said upper and lower members in a fixed position when assembled.
 2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperative means comprise: a. inwardly extending elongated flanges centrally positioned at each of the edges of the sidewalls of said upper member; b. smaller inwardly extending flanges spaced forward of said elongated flanges; c. elongated grooves at the junctures between each of the sidewalls and the bottom wall of said lower member; and d. outwardly extending protrusions at the forward ends of each of said grooves cooperating with said smaller flanges to lock said upper and lower members in an assembled position.
 3. A dispenser as defined in claim 2 wherein the cooperative means includes outwardly extending protrusions at the rear ends of said grooves which protrusions coact with the rear ends of said elongated flanged such that said upper and lower members can be restrained in a partially disengaged position to facilitate replenishment of said cards and labels in said chamber.
 4. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein the chamber contains a plurality of composite cards, each of said cards comprising a facing sheet with adhesive backing mounted on a coextensive releasable protective sheet, said facing sheet being severed to provide a relatively small grip portion and a substantially larger display portion.
 5. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein the chamber contains a plurality of composite cards, each of said cards comprising a facing sheet with adhesive backing mounted on a coextensive releasable protective sheet, said facing sheet being severed to provide a relatively small grip portion and a substantially larger display portion, and said facing sheet having sufficient body to be disengaged from said protective sheet when said grip portion is pulled downwardly with respect to said slot.
 6. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said cutout extends to at least one-half the length of said top wall and is of a width sufficient to receive the thumb of a user therein. 